In mid-September 2006, Concordia organised and funded a group study tour to Richmond, Virginia with a view to learning from the city’s experience of coming to terms with racial conflict, poverty and social disadvantage.  The objective of the tour was to observe and learn how honest conversations in Richmond were leading to new partnerships among individuals of every viewpoint – and how in turn if applied in Northern Ireland would strengthen the work of reconciliation immeasurably.

The tour was opened to the four social partner sectors in Northern Ireland as well as representatives from the statutory bodies.

The group walked the historic Slave Trail, and discussed the creation of America’s first Civil War Centre, which attempts to tell all sides of the story, with its founder, Alex Wise, the descendent of a Confederate General. Reflecting on Richmond’s attempt to claim a shared history, one delegate told our facilitators in the US, the organisation ‘Hope in the Cities’ which is dedicated to providing a framework for honest dialogue and collaboration among citizen groups  , “You have allowed one community to face its pain and the other to face its shame, and to do it together.”

Catholics, Protestants and people of no religious affiliation, took part in a workshop facilitated by Hope in the Cities on dialogue and how to tell the story of a conflict from the perspective of the “other.” Following the exercise, one participant said, “I feel liberated from the fear of the unknown. When you think about the other side, you exorcise your demons. It is more than tolerating; it is respecting, but not necessarily agreeing.” Another said, “At first I felt disloyal to my group.” Another reflected, “Telling the other side of the story is quite a responsibility. You ask yourself, have I got this right?”

Becoming comfortable with diversity is important, said one Belfast participant, because investment goes to those cities where people can say, ‘We feel safe;’ where there is space for everyone. Economic development follows diversity.

The Concordia delegation met senior police, consulted with leaders of affordable housing and environmental organizations, visited schools, had a formal welcome by Mayor Douglas Wilder in Richmond’s City Hall, and brought this very successful tour to an end with a meeting with Donald Shriver, the renowned author and ethicist, at the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington DC.

The post-tour report is available below.